They were not subjects of France.

The terms on which they surrendered are not exactly known.

Knox avers that they were to be free to live in France, and that, if they wished to leave, they were to be conveyed, at French expense, to any country except Scotland.

Buchanan declares that only the lives of the garrison and their friends were secured by the terms of surrender.

Lesley supports Knox, {30a} who is probably accurate.
To account for the French severity, Knox tells us that the Pope insisted on it, appealing to both the Scottish and French Governments; and Scotland sent an envoy to France to beg "that those of the castle should be sharply handled." Men of birth were imprisoned, the rest went to the galleys.